WE LIKE | Bellocq Tea Atelier – Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Lost among a bunch of industrial buildings of north Greenpoint, Bellocq could well be mistaken for a speakeasy bar. Michael Shannon, one of the founders, opened the door to us a few seconds after we rang. It’s hard to call this place a shop once one gets in, the whole setting is very warm and one instantly feels home here. Every feature of the setting must have been carefully picked, from the wall taint to the tea box colors, from the tea selection to the refined bear of Michael. We’ve rarely entered in such an amazing tea store, whatever you stare at looks like a stillborn painting (Grumeau’s moment of lyricism).

The opening hours are very limited, so be sure to check them on the website before. It’s also here that the tea blends are made by the founding trio, who started the adventure a few years ago in London. Bellocq opened a beautiful tea Atelier there too, on King Road in Chelsea, West London.

The teas are not exactly cheap, the price of a yellow cannister obviously depends of what kind of leaf one wants. But the smell is incredible and the packaging design is quite amazing. We fell in love for this stainless tea cannister with its yellow label. They also sell well executed goodies, including a nice tea strainer and a tea set which makes a great gift. We had a crush on the Siam Basil lemongrass, The Hindu Holdiay (flower and ginger and caradamon scents) but also the Hammeau (very appeasing perfume) or the intense Jasmin needles.